Anaemia in Cats 
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Anaemia in cats often presents itself in the form of tiredness, lethargy, and cold extremities.
If your cat has too few oxygen-carrying blood cells, it suffers from anaemia. The so-called anaemia in cats can have serious consequences. That’s why it’s crucial to understand and take this illness seriously. Discover in this article all about feline anaemia and what your beloved pet needs to recover.
Table of contents
- How dangerous is anaemia in cats?
- Symptoms: How do I recognise anaemia in my cat?
- Diagnosis: How is anaemia in a cat diagnosed?
- Therapy: What to do about anaemia in cats?
- Causes: What is the most common trigger for anaemia?
- Prognosis: Can feline anaemia be cured?
- Prevention: Can anaemia in cats be avoided?
How dangerous is anaemia in cats?
Red blood cells (erythrocytes) in a cat’s body transport vital oxygen to the cells of all organs. In the case of anaemia, the number of red blood cells in the blood is reduced. This means less oxygen is available for your cat.
What happens if anaemia is not treated?
The supply of oxygen to the organs is the foundation of a healthy life. If oxygen transport is compromised due to anaemia, it can cause significant damage to a cat. In the worst case, it can even be fatal.
Anaemia in cats should, therefore, always be taken seriously and treated as soon as possible.
Which cats are often affected by anaemia?
In general, all cat breeds can suffer from anaemia. This is because many different diseases or injuries can lead to anaemia in cats.
Symptoms: How do I recognise anaemia in my cat?
If your cat has anaemia, it usually has less energy than a healthy animal due to the lower oxygen content in its blood. Additionally, the following signs indicate anaemia in a cat:
- Affected cats are typically lethargic and sleep more than usual.
- In sick animals, it’s often noticeable that the ears and extremities slowly become colder.
- To compensate for the lack of blood, a cat’s heart increases its pumping function (tachycardia), making the pulse more palpable.
Symptoms depend on the cause
In addition to general signs of anaemia, your cat may show other symptoms. These are significantly dependent on the underlying disease triggering the anaemia.
For example, poisoning might lead to severe vomiting, whereas a kidney disease could result in altered urination behaviour and excessive thirst.
When should I visit the vet?
If your cat is behaving differently than usual, do not hesitate to seek help. The sooner you visit your vet, the quicker you can assist your cat. So don’t wait, and be sure to play it safe.
Diagnosis: How is anaemia in a cat diagnosed?
Your vet can determine anaemia through various tests. Some of these investigations also help to narrow down the possible cause.
Capillary Refill Time
First, the vet checks the cat’s capillary refill time on the mucous membranes, such as inside the mouth. The vet briefly presses on the gum before quickly removing their finger – a white spot should now be visible on the mucous membrane.
The vet then counts how long it takes for the mucous membrane to fill with blood again. If it takes longer than two seconds, the cat may be suffering from anaemia.
Blood Tests
A blood test provides information on the blood’s ingredients and potential triggers for anaemia.
Anaemia is diagnosed when the concentration of erythrocytes is reduced with a normal haematocrit, the percentage of blood cells in relation to the total blood volume.
Vets distinguish between different forms of anaemia:
- Regenerative Anaemia: The number of reticulocytes, that is, young red blood cells formed in the bone marrow, is increased and exceeds 40,000 µl (microlitres).
- Non-Regenerative Anaemia: The total number of reticulocytes is decreased and below 40,000 µl.
By examining a blood smear under a microscope, the vet can draw further conclusions and further define the type of anaemia:
- Normocytic Normochromic Anaemia: This is the most common form in cats and is usually associated with non-regenerative anaemia. The erythrocytes appear normally coloured and are of normal size.
- Microcytic (Hypochromic) Anaemia: In this type, the red blood cells are smaller and paler than usual.
- Macrocytic Anaemia: This type of anaemia is characterised by enlarged erythrocytes that are often more intensely coloured.
Further Investigations for Possible Anaemia
It is important to identify the root cause of anaemia. Therefore, the vet will conduct further investigations, which might include imaging techniques like ultrasound or X-ray.
Therapy: What to do about anaemia in cats?
As innumerable causes can lead to anaemia in cats, generalising a targeted therapy is not feasible.
Depending on the situation, medication such as anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers can help alleviate your cat’s symptoms. In severe cases, however, a blood transfusion may be necessary.
Blood Transfusion for Anaemia
If a blood transfusion is prescribed, the vet must first determine which blood group your cat belongs to. Once the vet has found a suitable blood donation, they will transfer it to the sick cat’s vein using a special blood transfusion kit.
Causes: What is the most common trigger for anaemia?
There are many triggers that can lead to anaemia in cats. In general, vets distinguish between regenerative and non-regenerative anaemia.
Regenerative Anaemia
Regenerative anaemia is present when the bone marrow is still active and producing erythrocytes, but these are being destroyed or lost faster than usual. This can be due to various causes.
Blood Loss
If your cat is losing a lot of blood, there is a deficiency. This can be due to:
- gastrointestinal bleeding, triggered by parasites or an intestinal tumour
- Coagulation disorders
- Trauma, injuries and vessel ruptures
- Poisoning with coumarin derivatives found in rat poison
Haemolysis
In haemolysis, the red blood cells are destroyed due to the cell membrane breakdown. This includes the autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA), which is more common in dogs. The body produces antibodies against its own erythrocytes, causing them to break down prematurely.
This can occur idiopathically or due to other underlying conditions such as:
- Inflammatory diseases like polyarthritis or nephritis
- Infectious diseases like FeLV/FIV or FIP
- Medication like methimazole and toxins like onions or antifreeze
- Tumours such as lymphoma or leukaemia
Non-Regenerative Anaemia
Non-regenerative means that the bone marrow is no longer producing new red blood cells. This can be due to various causes.
Bone Marrow Diseases
Certain triggers can damage the bone marrow, which is responsible for the formation of new erythrocytes. These include:
- Certain medications or toxins
- Ionising radiation
- Infections like FeLV or the parvovirus
- Myelodysplastic syndrome
Extramedullary Diseases
When the cause lies outside the bone marrow, it is an extramedullary disease. Typical triggers for this kind of condition are chronic diseases like:
- Infections
- Kidney and liver diseases
- Tumours
Prognosis: Can feline anaemia be cured?
With anaemia, the prognosis for your cat depends on the severity of the anaemia and the underlying disease. It’s crucial to know that an early visit to the vet can improve the chances of recovery.
Does an anaemic cat need to be put down?
Euthanasia of sick animals is always the last resort. It’s only considered if the suffering of your cat is too great. If your vet deems this step necessary, they will advise you thoroughly on the topic.
© yurolaitsalbert / stock.adobe.com
Prevention: Can anaemia in cats be avoided?
It’s not always possible for cat owners to prevent anaemia in their feline friends. Cats with outdoor access, for example, are constantly at risk of a car accident.
Generally, though, by conducting regular check-ups with the vet, you can detect and treat diseases earlier. Also, a balanced diet and sufficient exercise contribute to a good general condition for your cat.
This article from zooplus Magazine is purely informative. If your pet is experiencing discomfort, contact your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
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At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene. Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future. Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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